Batch metering device for liquid dyes

ABSTRACT

A metering device for a liquid driven by a reversible pumping means which includes a storage means for holding the liquid and a measuring container above the storage means for measuring liquid which is to be delivered by the pumping means from the measuring container to a discharge means. The metering device includes a means for setting the volume of liquid which will be dispensed from the metering device. The volume setting means is preferably an arch in a conduit between the bottom of the measuring container and the storage means. The arch is below the top but above the bottom of the measuring container so that when the liquid level in the measuring container and in the conduit reaches the arch, additional liquid supplied to the measuring container and the conduit, will flow over the arch and return to the storage means. The pumping means operates to remove liquid from the storage means to the measuring container and conduit and, when reversed, operates to remove liquid from the measuring container and conduit to the discharge.

United States Patent 1 Weed [451 Sept. 25, 1973 1 BATCH METERING DEVICEFOR LIQUID DYES [75] Inventor: William 1T. Weed, Syracuse, NY.

[73] Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation, New

York, NY.

22 Filed: Julv25,1 972 21 Appl.No.:275,013

[52] US. Cl 222/14, 222/23, 222/318,

222/380, 222/424.5, 222/443 [51] int. Cl B67d 5/30 [58] Field of Search222/14, 23, 40, 70,

Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Joseph J. RollaAttorney-Jay P. Friedenson et al.

[5 7 ABSTRACT A metering device for a liquid driven by a reversiblepumping means which includes a storage means for holding the liquid anda measuring container above the storage means for measuring liquid whichis to be delivered by the pumping meansfrom the measuring container to adischarge means. The metering device includes a means for setting thevolume of liquid which will be dispensed from the metering device. Thevolume setting means is preferably an arch in a conduit between thebottom of the measuring container and the storage means. The arch isbelow the top but above the bottom of the measuring container .50 thatwhen the liquid level in the measuring container and in the conduitreaches the arch, additional liquid supplied to the measuring containerand the conduit, will flow over the arch and return to the storagemeans. The pumping means operates to remove liquid from the storagemeans to the measuring container and conduit and, when reversed,operates to remove liquid from the measuring container and conduit tothe discharge.

19 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure BATCH METERING DEVICE FOR LIQUID DYESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns a metering deviceand more particularly concerns an inexpensive batch metering device fordelivering predetermined quantities of a liquid.

Prior art metering devices for automatically and accurately deliveringpredetermined quantities of liquids are complicated and expensive tomanufacture or use. Inexpensive simple measuring devices whichautomatically and accurately deliver a predetermined quantity of liquidare unavailable. Inexpensive accurate metering devices are needed whereaccurate quantities of a liquid are to be delivered. Accurate quantitiesof liquid are needed for many purposes, for example in packaging uniformpremeasured quantities of liquid, for accurately measuring a chemicalreactant, or for accurately measuring a liquidsuch as a dye which is tobe diluted with another measured quantity of another liquid such aswater and applied to a textile substrate to obtain a predeterminedtextile color shade.

A simple inexpensive device for accurately automatically measuring andautomatically delivering a predetermined quantity of liquid has now beendescribed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The drawing shows a schematic diagramof the preferred embodiment of the metering device of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention is for a, meteringdevice for a liquid which comprises a storage means, a reversiblepumping means, a first conduit, a first check valve, a measuringcontainer, a second conduit, a volume setting means, a third conduitmeans and=a discharge means. The storage means holds liquid which is tobe metered. The reversible pumping means is provided with inlet anddischarge openings and the inlet opening is connected by the firstconduit means to the storage means, the first conduit means beingprovided with a first check valve which permits liquid to flow from thestorage means only toward the pumping means.

The measuring container has alower opening which is connected by thesecond conduit means to the discharge opening of the pumping means. Thelower opening is above the horizontal plane of the surface of the liquidin the storage means and is preferably above the horizontal planepassing through the top of the storage means. The volume setting meansis adapted to set the volume of liquid which will be delivered from themetering device.

The third conduit means interconnects the lower opening of the measuringcontainer with the storage means andat least a portion of the thirdconduit means extends above the horizontal plane of the lower opening ofthe measuring container. The third conduit is however entirely below thehorizontal plane of the top of the measuring container.

The discharge means, which may consist only of an orifice but ispreferably a conduit including a second valve, is connected to the inletopening of the pumping means. In operation liquid from the storage meansis drawn by the reversible pumping means through the first conduit tothe inlet opening of the pumping means and through the pumping means andsecond conduit DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The metering deviceof this invention comprises a storage means, such as a drum or otherreservoir for holding the liquid to be measured. The storage means may,if desired be the container in which the liquid was A originallydelivered, thus eliminating the need for transfer of the liquid to aspecial storage reservoir. The metering device is driven by a reversiblepumping means, preferably in conjunction with a reversing switchactuatedby a timing means. The reversible pumping means may be areversible centrifugal, piston or diaphragm pump or any other reversiblepumping means known in the art. The pump may be actuated and reversed bya hand operated switch or, preferably, may be operated by a reversingswitch actuated by a timing means such as a gear or electronic timer.The reversible pumping means is provided with inlet and dischargeopenings which may also be referred to as first and second openingsrespectively. The inlet opening is connected by a first conduit meanssuch as a pipe, hose or tube manufactured from metallic, ceramic orplastic materials to the storage means. The first conduit means isprovided with a first. check valve of any suitable design which permitsliquid to flow from the storage means only toward the pumping means. Thefirst check valve prevents liquid from returning through the firstconduit means to the storage means.

The metering device is provided with a measuring container having alower opening. The measuring container is of any suitable regular shapeand may for example be cylindrical, spherical, pyramidal orprismic. Aparticularly advantageous shape is an inverted cone in that allcontained liquid is is funneled to a single location at the bottom ofthe measuring container and in that it has been found that thepercentage of error with respect to volume seems to be more constantthan is the case when a measuring container having a constant crosssectional area such as a cylinder is used where the error is a constantvolume rather than a constant percentage. I The measuring container maybe manufactured from any suitable substance such as metallic, ceramic,or plastic materials or may be of laminated construction. A loweropening is provided in the measuring container which is preferablyprovided with a Y or T type fiitting to permit connection of a pair ofconduit means. The lower opening is connected by means of the fitting toone end of a second conduit means which may be of a construction similarto the construction of the first conduit means. The other end of thesecond conduit means is connected to the discharge opening of thepumping means.

The measuring device is provided with a volume setting means which iscapable of setting the volume of liquid which will be delivered from themetering device. The volume setting means may be fixed or adjustable.The volume setting means preferably comprises an arch in a third conduitbetween the lower opening of the measuring means and the storage means,the

upper portion of the arch being at a vertical height above a horizontalplane passing through .the lower opening of the measuring container andbelow a horizontal planepassing through the top of the measuringcontainer. With this arrangement, liquid being forced by the pumpingmeans into the measuring reservoir and the third conduit will fill boththe reservoir and the third conduit until the liquid level reaches thearch. After the liquid level reaches the arch the level will not risefurther since additional liquid will flow over the arch and back to thestorage means. The vertical height of the arch is preferably adjustableby raising and lowering the arch between a horizontal plane passingthrough the lower opening of the measuring container and a horizontalplane passing through the top of the measuring container. The liquidlevel which can be reached in the third conduit is thus adjustable,which in turn varies the volume of liquid which can be held by themeasuring container and third conduit. The arch is then held in place bya holding means such as an adjustable clamp. The arch is preferablyflexible in order to permit raising and lowering, although other meanssuch as a sleeve fitting in the third conduit may be used to permit thevertical height of the arch to be adjusted. The measuring device doesnot require an adjustable volume setting means if the volume to bedelivered by the metering device does not need to be adjusted, that iswhere only a fixed predetermined unadjustable volume is to be deliveredby the metering device. Fixing the vertical height of the arch asdescribed above in a predetermined unadjustable position will result ina metering device which will deliver a constant unadjustable volume ofliquid. When the arch is in a fixed position the third conduit may bemade entirely from flexible materials such as rubber or flexibleplastic, or entirely from rigid materials such as steel.

The third conduit connecting the lower opening of the measuringcontainer with the storage means may be rigid if a constant unadjustablevolume is to be delivered from the metering device or if a volumesetting means other than the simple arch arrangement of the preferredembodiment is used, if the volume to be delivered is to be adjustable bymoving the arch, the third conduit should preferably be at leastpartially flexible to permit movement of the arch in at least apartially vertical direction.

The metering device may be provided with a discharge means connected tothe inlet opening of the pumping means. The discharge means may be of asimple orifice or a fourth conduit to carry the measured liquid, to apredetermined area. The discharge means preferably but not necessarilyincludes a second check valve to prevent liquid or air from being pulledthrough The metering device of the invention may, if desired,

be provided with a volume measuring means for determining the volume ofliquid at any time which may be pumped by the pumping means through thedischarge means. The volume measuring means may be any suit ableapparatus for directly or indirectly determining the volume of liquid inthe measuring container and third conduit, available for transmission bythe pumping means through the discharge means.

in the preferred embodiment the volume measuring means is a heightmeasuring means for measuring the vertical depth of the liquid in themeasuring container, which depth measurement can be easily converted toa volume measurement mathematically due to the regular shape of thecontainer. For example, if the measuring container is a verticallyoriented inverted cone wherein the radius of the cone at any givenposition is one-half the depth or distance h to the vertex from thatposition, the volume would be To this volume must be added the volume ofliquid in the third conduit which, if the third conduit is an elongatedcylinder which is vertically oriented from the horizontal plane of thelower opening, can be calculated by the formula arrh where h is thevertical height of liquid in the third conduit from the horizontal planeof the lower opening which is the same as the depth of liquid in themeasuring container, since the liquid seeks its own level. Since rr andr are constants, it is clear that volume is solely dependent uponvertical height of liquid in the measuring container, thus a simplescale may be devised indicating volume directly from the vertical heightmeasurement. Horizontal plane of the lower opening means that horizontalplane through the lower most portion of an opening in either themeasuring container or second conduit through which liquid will pass bygravitational force. It is assumed in these calculations that both themeasuring container and upper arch of the third conduit are vented toprevent the pumping means from pulling liquid either from a lower archof the third conduit between th the lower opening and another positionon the horizontal plane of the lower opening, or through the thirdconduit from the storage means.

In the preferred embodiment, the height measuring means is a pressuregauge attached to the lower opening or comprises the third conduitmanufactured of transparent material, a portion of which runs paralleland proximate to a scale. The scale extends at least partially in adirection parallel to the vertical axis of the measuring reservoir abovethe horizontal plane passing through the lower opening of the measuringcontainer so that the liquid level may be seen through the transparentmaterial next to the scale. The scale may be calibrated to read verticalheight or preferably may be calibrated to read volume directly.

The metering device may be started, stopped and reversed by a handoperated switch activating and reversing the pumping means; however, thepumping means is preferably started, stopped and reversed in apredetermined sequence by a switch operated by a timing means. Thetiming means may be any suitable timing device for activating the switchsuch as an electronic timer or an electric motor operating-a sequence ofgears.

In operation activation of the pumping means in a forward directioncauses liquid to flow from the storage means and the first check valveto the inlet opening of the pumping means. The liquid then flows throughthe pumping means through the second conduit means into the measuringcontainer and into the third conduit means. The liquid then fills themeasuring container and the third conduit means until the liquid reachesthe volume set by the volume setting means. When the volume settingmeans is the previously discussed upper arch in the third conduit means,liquid in excess of the predetermined volume flows over the upper archin the third conduit means. Reversing the pumping causes liquid in themeasuring container and in the third conduit means to flow through thesecond conduit means through the pumping means and the second checkvalve to the discharge means.

The operation of a preferred embodiment of the batch metering device canbe further illustrated by reference to the drawing. Metering devicecomprises storage means or storage reservoir 12 which may be a drum forholding liquid 11. A reversible centrifugal pump 13 having inlet orfirst opening 14 and discharge or second opening 15, is connected bymeans of pipe or first conduit means 16 and common conduit 35 to drum12. Pipe 16 is connected to inlet opening 14 of pump 13 and is providedwith check valve 17 which prevents liquid from flowing from the pump 13to drum 12. Pump 13 is connected by means of second conduit or pipe tolower opening 19 of measuring container 18 adapted to hold liquid 11.Lower opening 19 is connected by means of third conduit 22, preferablyin the form of a transparent tube, to drum 12, lower opening 19 being ata higher level than the liquid in drum 12 and preferably above thehorizontal plane passing through the top of drum 12 with a portion 34 oftube 22 running parallel to a proximate scale 21.

A discharge means in the form of pipe 23 is connected by means of commonconduit 35 to inlet opeing 14 of pump 13 and is provided with a secondcheck valve 24 which prevents liquid or air from flowing through pipe 23to pump 13. The discharge means delivers the measured quantity of liquidto its desired lo cation for example if the liquid is a dye, to adiluting tank (not shown) from which the diluted dye may be used to dyea textile fabric.

The volume setting means comprises an upper arch 31 in tube 22 and apointer 29 secured to tube 22 proximate the arch 31 at the position intube 22 where liquid will begin to flow by gravity over arch 31, whichis the uppermost upwardly curved portion of tube 22, when section 34 oftube 22 is filled with liquid, section 34 being a section of tube 22below arch 31 connected to lower opening 19.

A part of section 34 is'preferably secured to scale 21 by a fasteningmeans such as clamps 35 although in other embodiments other sections oftube 22 or none of tube 22 may be connected to scale 21. Scale 21 isprovided with volumetric markings 33 to indicate the volume of liquid intube 22 and measuring container 18. Vents 27 and 28 are supplied onmeasuring container l8 and arch 31 respectively to ensure smooth flowthroughout the system and to prevent liquid from being drawn from lowerarch 32 which is the lower most downwardly curved portion, of tube 22 bypump 13 when the liquid level in tube 22 falls below the level of loweropening 19.

Pump 13 is activated, stopped and reversed by a timing and switch meansin the form of motor driven geared timer switch 26 which is connected topump 13 by means of cable 30. The sequence of timer switch 26 ispreferably such that pump 13 is stopped before it is reversed to permitturbulence in liquid 1 1 to subside so that liquid 11 in measuringcontainer 18 and tube 22 will more accurately reach its proper levelthus permitting improved metering accuracy.

In operation timer switch 26 actuates pump 13 in the forward directionwhich causes liquid 11 to be drawn from drum 12 through pipe 16 checkvalve 17 and common conduit 35 to pump 13. Pump 13 then pumps liquid 11through pipe 20 into measuring container 18 and tube 22. When the liquidlevel in container 18 and tube 22 reaches upper arch 31 additionalliquid flows over upper arch 31 through tube 22 to drum 12. Timer switch26 then stops pump 13 for a sufficient period to permit stabilization ofthe liquid level in measuring container 18 and tube 22. Timer switch 26then reverses pump 13 causing liquid stored in measuring container 18and tube 22 to pass through pump 13 and' check valve 24 to dischargepipe 23 until the liquid level in measuring container 18 and tube 22 isbelow the level of lower opening 19. Check valve 16 prevents liquid frompassing from pump 13 to drum 12 when the pump is reversed. Timer switch26 will then stop pump 13 and start it again in the forward direction torepeat the measuring cycle. The timer switch may start, stop, andreverse the pump in a predetermined sequence which may be repeated in acontinuous operation.

The liquid level in measuring container 18 and tube 22 can be observedthrough tube 22 and the volume of liquid in container 18 and tube 22 canbe read on scale 21 at the liquid level line. This is not possible whensection 34 of tube 22 is not proximate scale 21, although except forreading liquid level, the metering device will still operate if othersections or no sections of tube 22 is proximate scale 21. Arch 31should, however, be proximate scale 21 to permit the volume to bedelivered to be easily determined on the scale at the position of loop31.

The volume of liquid being delivered by the meterin device can bechanged by releasing clamps 25 and raising or lowering arch 31 in tube22 thus raising or lowering the liquid level reached before additionliquid,

passes over arch 31 to drum 12. The volume to be delivered can be readon scale 21 at pointer 29.

Volumetric reproducible accuracy of the metering device as shown in thedrawing is about i 1.0 percent based on the volume of liquid delivered.Much higher accuracy can however be obtained when the upper arch ishorizontal with a narrow neck on a different shaped measuring container.Accuracies can be as good as i 0.01 percent when a narrow neckedmeasuring container is used; however, such accurate volume measurementsmay be made only over a relatively small volumetric range which range isequal to the volume of the narrowed neck. For example if the measuringcontainer holds 1,000 cubic cm.- up to the neclrand the neck holds fivecubic centimeters, the very accurate volume measurements may be madeonly between 1,000 and 1,005 cubic centimeters.

In order to assist in preventing liquid from flowing through the thirdconduit means or through the pumping means to discharge means when thepumping means is reversed, the third conduit means preferably enters thestorage means proximate the top of the storage means so that the thirdconduit means will not be immersed in liquid held in the storage means.The first conduit however is to be maintained within the liquid in thestorage means so that liquid will enter the first conduit to provideliquid to the pumping means. The first conduit therefore enters thebottom of the storage means or enters the top of the storage means andterminates or stops proximate the bottom of the storage means.

I claim:

1. A metering device for a liquid comprising;

a. a storage means for said liquid;

b. a reversible pumping means having inlet and discharge openings saidinlet opening being connected by;

c. a first conduit means to the storage means, the first conduit meansbeing provided with;

d. a first check valve which permits liquid to flow from the storagemeans only toward the pumping means;

e. a measuring container having a lower opening, said lower openingbeing connected by f. a second conduit means to the discharge opening ofthe pumping means, said lower opening being above the horizontal planeof the surface of the liquid in said storage means;

g. a volume setting means adapted to set the volume of said liquid whichwill be delivered from said metering device;

h. a third conduit means interconnecting the lower opening of themeasuring container with the storage means, a portion of said thirdconduit means extending above the horizontal plane of said loweropening, said third conduit means being entirely below the horizontalplane of the top of said measuring container; and

i. a discharge means connected to the inlet opening of said pumpingmeans.

2. The metering device claimed in claim 1 wherein the volume settingmeans comprises an arch in the third conduit means, the upper portion ofthe arch being at a vertical height above a horizontal plane passingthrough the lower opening of the measuring container and below ahorizontal plane passing through the top of the measuring container.

3. The metering device of claim 2 wherein the vertical height of thearch is adjustable between a horizontal plane passing through said loweropening and a horizontal plane passing through the top of said measuringcontainer.

4. The metering device of claim 3 wherein said third conduit ismanufactured at least partially from a flexible material so that thearch may be vertically moved.

5. The metering device claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided avolume measuring means for determining the volume of liquid at any timewhich may be pumped by said pumping means through said discharge means.i

6. The metering device claimed in claim 5 wherein said volume measuringmeans comprises a height measuring means proximate said measuringcontainer, said height measuring means being capable of measuring thevertical depth of said liquid in said measuring container.

7. The metering device claimed in claim 6 wherein said height measuringmeans is a pressure gauge attached to said lower opening.

8. The metering device claimed in claim 6 wherein the height measuringmeans comprises the third conduit manufactured of transparent material,a portion of said third conduit running parallel and proximate to ascale, said scale extending at least partially in a direction parallelto the vertical axis of themeasuring container above a horizontal planepassing through the lower opening of the measuring so that the liquidlevel may be seen through the transparent material next to the scale.

9. The metering device of claim 1 wherein the discharge means includes asecond check valve which permits liquid to flow only in a direction awayfrom the pumping means through the discharge means.

10. A metering device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said pumping meansis automatically started, stopped and reversed in a predeterminedsequence by a switch operated by a timing means.

11. The metering device of claim 9 wherein the timing means is anelectric motor operating a sequence of gears.

12. The metering device of claim 9 wherein said measuring container is acone in shape and the lower opening is at the apex of the cone being thelower most portion of said measuring container.

13. The metering device of claim 10 wherein said first conduit entersthe storage means and terminates proximate the bottom of the storagemeans.

14. The metering device of claim 1 wherein the first conduit is attachedto the storage means proximate the bottom of the storage means.

15. The metering device of claim 4 wherein the flexible third conduitmeans enters the storage means proximate the top of the storage meansand stops proximate the top of the storage means.

16. The metering device of claim 15 wherein the top of the measuringcontainer is provided with a vent opening.

17. The metering device of claim 10 wherein said sequence is continuous.

18. The metering device of claim 4 wherein said flexible third conduitis provided with an upwardly extending vent line open to the atmospheresaid vent line being connected to said flexible third conduit at theupper most portion of said flexible third conduit.

19. The metering device of claim 18 wherein said flexible third conduitis provided with a pointer indicating means proximate the intersectionof said flexible third conduit with said vent line.

1. A metering device for a liquid comprising; a. a storage means forsaid liquid; b. a reversible pumping means having inlet and dischargeopenings said inlet opening being connected by; c. a first conduit meansto the storage means, the first conduit means being provided with; d. afirst check valve which permits liquid to flow from the storage meansonly toward the pumping means; e. a measuring container having a loweropening, said lower opening being connected by f. a second conduit meansto the discharge opening of the pumping means, said lower opening beingabove the horizontal plane of the surface of the liquid in said storagemeans; g. a volume setting means adapted to set the volume of saidliquid which will be delivered from said metering device; h. a thirdconduit means interconnecting the lower opening of the measuringcontainer with the storage means, a portion of said third conduit meansextending above the horizontal plane of said lower opening, said thirdconduit means being entirely below the horizontal plane of the top ofsaid measuring container; and i. a discharge means connected to theinlet opening of said pumping means.
 2. The metering device claimed inclaim 1 wherein the volume setting means comprises an arch in the thirdconduit means, the upper portion of the arch being at a vertical heightabove a horizontal plane passing through the lower opening of themeasuring container and below a horizontal plane passing through the topof the measuring container.
 3. The metering device of claim 2 whereinthe vertical height of the arch is adjustable between a horizontal planepassing through said lower opening and a horizontal plane passingthrough the top of said measuring container.
 4. The metering device ofclaim 3 wherein said third conduIt is manufactured at least partiallyfrom a flexible material so that the arch may be vertically moved. 5.The metering device claimed in claim 2 wherein there is provided avolume measuring means for determining the volume of liquid at any timewhich may be pumped by said pumping means through said discharge means.6. The metering device claimed in claim 5 wherein said volume measuringmeans comprises a height measuring means proximate said measuringcontainer, said height measuring means being capable of measuring thevertical depth of said liquid in said measuring container.
 7. Themetering device claimed in claim 6 wherein said height measuring meansis a pressure gauge attached to said lower opening.
 8. The meteringdevice claimed in claim 6 wherein the height measuring means comprisesthe third conduit manufactured of transparent material, a portion ofsaid third conduit running parallel and proximate to a scale, said scaleextending at least partially in a direction parallel to the verticalaxis of the measuring container above a horizontal plane passing throughthe lower opening of the measuring so that the liquid level may be seenthrough the transparent material next to the scale.
 9. The meteringdevice of claim 1 wherein the discharge means includes a second checkvalve which permits liquid to flow only in a direction away from thepumping means through the discharge means.
 10. A metering device asclaimed in claim 9 wherein said pumping means is automatically started,stopped and reversed in a predetermined sequence by a switch operated bya timing means.
 11. The metering device of claim 9 wherein the timingmeans is an electric motor operating a sequence of gears.
 12. Themetering device of claim 9 wherein said measuring container is a cone inshape and the lower opening is at the apex of the cone being the lowermost portion of said measuring container.
 13. The metering device ofclaim 10 wherein said first conduit enters the storage means andterminates proximate the bottom of the storage means.
 14. The meteringdevice of claim 1 wherein the first conduit is attached to the storagemeans proximate the bottom of the storage means.
 15. The metering deviceof claim 4 wherein the flexible third conduit means enters the storagemeans proximate the top of the storage means and stops proximate the topof the storage means.
 16. The metering device of claim 15 wherein thetop of the measuring container is provided with a vent opening.
 17. Themetering device of claim 10 wherein said sequence is continuous.
 18. Themetering device of claim 4 wherein said flexible third conduit isprovided with an upwardly extending vent line open to the atmospheresaid vent line being connected to said flexible third conduit at theupper most portion of said flexible third conduit.
 19. The meteringdevice of claim 18 wherein said flexible third conduit is provided witha pointer indicating means proximate the intersection of said flexiblethird conduit with said vent line.